A new species of beaked whale has been described by researchers from the University of New South Wales.
This elusive species lives in deep water beyond the edges of continental shelves, meaning they are almost impossible to observe in the wild. The research was conducted on seven study animals stranded on remote tropical islands over the past 50 years.
Using a combination of DNA analysis and morphological characteristics the new species, Mesoplodon hotaula, was classified as being distinct to other beaked whale species.
Read more at UNSW Sydney